How Spanking Harms the Brain

Spanking erodes developmental growth in children and decreases a child's IQ, a recent Canadian study shows.

This analysis, conducted at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, offers new evidence that corporal punishment causes cognitive impairment and long-term developmental difficulties.

Debates around physical punishment typically revolve around the ethics of using violence to enforce discipline. This inquiry synthesized 20 years of published research on the topic and aims to "shift the ethical debate over corporal punishment into the medical sphere," says Joan Durant, a professor at University of Manitoba and one of the authors of the study.

According to the report, spanking may reduce the brain's grey matter, the connective tissue between brain cells. Grey matter is an integral part of the central nervous system and influences intelligence testing and learning abilities. It includes areas of the brain involved in sensory perception, speech, muscular control, emotions and memory. Additional research supports the hypothesis that children and adolescents subjected to child abuse and neglect have less grey matter than children who have not been ill-treated.

Medical professionals investigating the long-term effects of spanking have consistently found a link between corporal punishment and increased aggression in children. Such "educational" discipline correlates to higher levels of acting out in school and trouble in academic performance. It predicts vulnerability to depression, typically in girls, and antisocial tendencies usually manifest in boys.

Boys are spanked more than girls. Physical punishment most frequently occurs at the toddler or preschooler age. Parents of lower income and with less formal education spank more often. Religious conservatives tend to favor corporeal punishment, though not always the case. The King James version of the bible, Proverbs: 13:24, expresses the sentiment "spare the rod and spoil the child" in antiquated language: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Spanking gets quick results, but it doesn't reduce the undesired behavior. In addition to detrimental physiological effects, it may also inflict lasting emotional damage that inhibits the learning process. Physical punishment undermines trust between parent and child and breeds hostility toward authority figures. Being hit may subsequently hinder social relations in the classroom where there is a power differential between teacher and child. It is any wonder when hitting sends the signal to a child that learning occurs through punishment? This form of discipline pretends to be educational, but is actually a way for parents to vent their own anger. Spanking involves the learned misrecognition of injury as education. Figures of cultural authority, such as parents and teachers, may be construed as purveyors of sadism rather than knowledge. Corporal punishment undermines compassion for others, for oneself, and limits the mutual capacity for gaining insight.

In 1979, Sweden became the first country to outlaw the physical punishment of children. Since then, more that 30 other countries have banned corporal punishment at home and in schools. Yet it remains legal for a parent to spank their child in the United States. Part of the difficulty in changing the cultural attitude that corporal punishment is an effective means of discipline is that many view prohibiting spanking as limiting the rights of parents. Here, the underlying assumption is that children remain the property of adults and should serve their parents' egos.

In the United States, spanking has declined since the civil rights movements of the 1960s. Most parents who use physical punishment today express regret for it and scant belief that it improves a child's behavior. More effective means of teaching discipline are: giving time-outs, choices and non-violent consequences for misbehavior. These include logical consequences ("if you do not pick up your toys, they will not be available tomorrow") and natural consequences ("if you do not put on your coat, you will be cold").

Parents who administer corporal punishment were often on the receiving end of it themselves. In other words, the cause of this form of "educational" violence are often hidden in the repressed history of the parents. When adults do not understand the connections between their previous experiences of injury and those they actively repeat in the present, they perpetuate a destructive cycle and inflict their own suffering on their offspring. The next generation continues to carry the damage that has been stored up in the mind and body of their ancestor. Conversely, parents can also work to become consciously aware of their own childhood pain and recognize how they transmit historical violence to their children by hitting.

The effective teaching of discipline may have the potential to lessen the overall levels of violence in our society. In other words, corporal punishment, of which spanking is a relatively minor form, can have larger social implications. Some studies suggest a connection between the physical punishment of children and the behavior involved in some criminal assaults.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Psychological Association oppose striking a child or adolescent for any reason. Regarding how a parent can best handle an incident of spanking in the moment of regret after it has occurred, The American Academy of Pediatrics advises:

Parents should explain calmly why they did it, the specific behavior that provoked it, and how angry they felt. They also might apologize to their child for their loss of control. This usually helps the youngster to understand and accept the spanking, and it models for the child how to remediate a wrong.

What do we want to teach our children? Spanking teaches kids that hitting is an acceptable response to anger. Showing the next generation how to manage rage without violence is a critical life skill.

Teaches children that violence is an acceptable reaction to anger? Any decent parent knows that you never spank a child while angry. This article is blatantly biased and does not state a single fact to support the claim. It merely makes the claim. If you wish to state an opinion that is perfectly acceptable, but do not present it as fact. While I have seen hundreds of articles based on Joan Durrant's findings, I have yet to see one single article include any of the 20 years of research she says supports her claim. Interesting that it is left out of that many articles. Statistically that is amazing.

I was spanked and learned to be afraid of my parents. I didn'tspank my children.I gave them choices the reward for the right behavior or took away privileges or toys and such for the wrong. They didn't like it, but they're not afraid of me nor will they spank their kids.

I was spanked as a kid, and never was I afraid of my parents. Just afraid of the repercussions of not behaving. What you're saying is that if you spank your kids, they'll be afraid of you? That's like saying your afraid of the police because they might put you in jail. You're really not afraid of the police, just the outcome of your actions. Maybe your fear was misplaced?

This article is ridiculous. Spanking if done right will not have to be done for very long. By way of example, the Amish spank their kids and they have some of the hs priest, not to mention most well-behaved children in the world. Modern psychology lived out in practical application has produced a generation of disrespectful, spoiled brats who laugh at what their parents call discipline. A good whack on the butt doesn't harm the child one bit. On the contrary, it teaches them in a way no words possibly could that some behaviors are to be avoided at all costs.

Thanks for your comment and feedback. You say that "any decent parent knows that you never spank a child while angry." What do you imagine that decent parents feel and think when they do spank a child?

Thanks for your comment and feedback. You say that "any decent parent knows that you never spank a child while angry." What do you imagine that decent parents feel and think when they do spank a child?

... and those parents would be wrong. The children don't think "I'll never do that again." They think "I will never get CAUGHT doing that again." You didn't teach them the right behavior or why it was wrong and if you tried they probably missed it because they focused on the spanking. I remember my own thoughts as a child... I learned not to get caught. Spanking often doesn't change the behavior, just what the parent sees.

I'm coming from a place of a person who was spanked. It's not a theory, it an experience. I learned to not do that again! I agree there's the element of "don't get caught" which was in there too, but that butt whipping taught me to NEVER play with a GUN! The verbal communication with the spanking was as important as the spanking. Spanking without teaching is ineffective.

I'm coming from a place of a person who was spanked. It's not a theory, it an experience. I learned to not do that again! I agree there's the element of "don't get caught" which was in there too, but that butt whipping taught me to NEVER play with a GUN! The verbal communication with the spanking was as important as the spanking. Spanking without teaching is ineffective.

I think it's ridiculous to use "spanking" interchangeably with "violence" and "physical abuse." Spanking is a form of discipline accompanied by an explanation of why the punishment was administered. Violence and physical abuse are abhorrent and are completely different than giving a child a spanking. Violence and physical abuse are committed by parents who are abusing their children; these are parents who react out of anger and are simply acting out violence against their child(ren), not discipline. I would never hit my child or "strike" my child - but I absolutely do spank him on the bottom as a form of discipline. I was also spanked as a child and I most certainly learned that what I was being spanked for was unacceptable behavior and I learned not to continue to do it! It greatly upsets me when someone can't make the distinction between hitting and abuse compared to spanking as discipline. Those are the people/parents that I worry about!

So let me get this straight - some adult left a firearm in a place where it was easily accessible by a child and the *child* is the one that got punished? Please let me know who the adult is so I can go give them a 'whoopin' - I'll make sure to talk to them while I do it.

Spanking often doesn't change the behavior, just what the parent sees.

So true. That is because we know by instinct that regardless of what people or parents say. Sometimes you have to lie and do things differently so you don't get caught. This is why there is so much hypocrisy in the world.

"""""""Spanking often doesn't change the behavior, just what the parent sees.

So true. That is because we know by instinct that regardless of what people or parents say. Sometimes you have to lie and do things differently so you don't get caught. This is why there is so much hypocrisy in the world.""""""""""

No, you didn't learn respect - your learned to fear them. They are polar opposites. If as an adult you think you deserve respect, then you have to earn it ... and treat your children with respect and then, you will have it returned. If .. however you choose to abuse your child by hitting it, and yes, it IS abuse to hit, then all they learn is 'Might equals Right' - and look where that has got you !

This is why we live in the age of entitlement. There is a definite line between spanking for disciplinary measures and spanking to be cruel. Sure you might think it is just plain cruel to spank but some kids need it. Useless they need it, then spanking shouldn't be involved.

The only problem with having logical consequences are that many parents don't hold true to their statement (from your example: if you don't clean your room, your toys won't be available tomorrow). They are learning what they can get away with at a young age.

Thinking about it, dogs are quite like children. They try to see what they can get away with from their owner. If all an owner does is yell at it, to a dog it's a similar form of barking. Physical punishment is the only way to get a dog to understand that what he's doing is wrong. (This is why small dogs are annoying)

Yikes! I hope you have never been a dog owner. I've had many dogs and have never hit my animals. They are not their to serve my ego.

Likewise, my children are not here to serve my ego. It is not necessary to hit children. Actually, the opposite is what creates caring, successful adults. A combination of a close bond, attachment, teaching by example, and speaking to your children creates an individual that learns to take a breath before reacting with aggression. How often I hear parents spank their children because of their own intolerance levels! What about the parent? So, they are always right?

As for entitlement, you are confusing spoiling children with "things." That sure does create entitlement but how does not spanking create entitlement? Kids should grow up with the expectation that someone else is not going to hit them. Guess that is entitlement? No, in the adult world that results in arrest.

Children and dogs are not property. Btw, neither are spouses (or should we keep them in line with aggression too?).

Research shows that it trains just as well and often better than traditional techniques such as the shock collar. People and dogs simply do not learn well when their fear instincts (think lower brain) are instigated.

Submitted by Amber Reyes, VIOLENCE is WRONG. on February 13, 2012 - 7:50am

No two ways about it. People who hit children are barbarians, plain and simple. Anyone who justifies it has moved into the category of monster. Physical punishment has been outlawed in other places, people. Outlawed. Stop and think about that for a moment. What's more important, protecting and preserving the future that lies inherent in our children, or satisfying one's own need for violence and a quick fix that will cost much in the long run? To compare children to dogs? WOW. I shudder to think you have procreated. I hope not. To belittle the status of children to that of a dog- sounds like a sociopath to me. Total lack of compassion.

No two ways about it. People who hit children are barbarians, plain and simple. Anyone who justifies it has moved into the category of monster.

No two ways about it: Anyone who refuses to spank children who really need it, is CREATING monsters... arrogant, entitled barbarian monsters who will be a burden on all of society when they are older. Particularly the criminal justice system.

Here is an irrefutable fact that is validated with thousands of years worth of data: Some children, particularly male children, simply ***CAN NOT*** be socialized to accept civilized behavioral norms, without at least occasionally resorting to pain complaince measures. This is a hard, unchangeable fact of human nature that you cannot socially reengineer away.

Here is a prediction for you: If you insist on believing your "no spank" theory, you won't last. You will eventually face uncontrollable misbehavior on the part of your children, and a physical response will be the only one that is effective or even possible. So if you don't make some room in your ideological space for moderate, carefully though-out physical punishment, to be used sparingly and judiciously and before things get way too out of hand, you WILL eventually fly off the handle and become the abuser that you falsely imagine moderate spankers to be.

Physical punishment has been outlawed in other places, people. Outlawed.

So what? Lots of stupid laws have been passed in history, by stupid nations. Lots of civilizations have fallen, too. Most of the places that outlawed spanking are about to get conquered by Islam. Ho hum.

What's more important, protecting and preserving the future that lies inherent in our children, or satisfying one's own need for violence....

You are clearly totally unfamiliar with anyone's reason for spanking. I've never yet encountered even one parent who spanked to satisfy one's own need for violence. My Dad spanked me because I didn't do my homework, mouthed off to Mom, and similar. (I never dared shoplift or cut school or smoke dope but I'm sure that would have earned a spanking too.)

The fact that you imagine that parents spank to "satisfy one's own need for violence", says nothing about the discipline excercised by responsible parents, but it may say something disturbing about YOU. Normal people would never even THINK this!!! The idea would never cross our minds!

Seriously, get some help. Either you are very confused, or you have a deep need for violence of your own, that you project on us, or you're an abuse victim yourself and are quite literally incapable of facing the subject rationally (like a preacher who rants on about "demon alcohol" and cannot fathom moderate, sensible use of it because HE came from an alcoholic home and therefore cannot tell the difference.)

To compare children to dogs? WOW. I shudder to think you have procreated. I hope not. To belittle the status of children to that of a dog- sounds like a sociopath to me. Total lack of compassion.[/cite]

You clearly have very little experience with either dogs or children. The similarities, at an early age, are remarkable. And mostly cute.

I have three children all in school and getting good grades. I see the words, great student, joy to have in class, works well with others and many other lovely complements. Tell me how my children are monsters again? Why would you want to lay a hand on someone you love? Why? I want my kids to know why they did wrong and not be afraid of me. I want my kids to come to me with their problems without fear of being hit. I want my kids to be honest with me and not be afraid their honesty will take a beating.My children respect me. Hitting someone does not help them respect you. Imagine if your boss hit you or your spouse when you did wrong. Oh that's right you would not respect them. I have a degree in Early Childhood development, I am a mom of three. I have seen children who are hit and that is how they think problems are solved. You need to learn basic conflict resolution.

Funny. I never hit my kids. One is a grown man who asks nothing of me, takes care of himself and is a fine person. The other just started as a freshman in college. He was captain of debate, active in ASB, worked and volunteered at a youth agency for 2 summers. And I still have a good relationship with my boys.

Submitted by Amber Reyes, VIOLENCE is WRONG. on February 13, 2012 - 7:50am

No two ways about it. People who hit children are barbarians, plain and simple. Anyone who justifies it has moved into the category of monster. Physical punishment has been outlawed in other places, people. Outlawed. Stop and think about that for a moment. What's more important, protecting and preserving the future that lies inherent in our children, or satisfying one's own need for violence and a quick fix that will cost much in the long run? To compare children to dogs? WOW. I shudder to think you have procreated. I hope not. To belittle the status of children to that of a dog- sounds like a sociopath to me. Total lack of compassion.

I have 2 pits. I do not BEAT them. ever. What I do is when they misbehave seriously (as in they are getting overly aggressive with each other either in seriousness or play)they get called in when I have a rolled up magazine in my hand. They are told to sit. I say "Bad Puppy" and they get 2 light swats on the nose. These are dogs that run head first into metal poles and it doesn't faze them. They have enormous pain tolerance. And yet the two light swats (which aren't enough to cause anyone pain) and "bad puppy" have significantly cut their aggressive play and misbehavior to less than half. Its the same as spanking. And its the same with children who in many cases don't understand WHY you can't play with fire or run into the street with cars. They associate a swat on the butt and a stern talking to with something bad that SHOULD NOT BE DONE EVER. The problem is when parents beat their kids, or spank for everything, or don't communicate.

So - you hit a child, albeit in your world, a small swat on the butt and a stern talking to [even though in your words 'they can't understand'] and that magically 'solves' the problem of them running into roads [without you ever having to be the parent and actually either teach them how to use roads or keep them well clear] or playing with fire [which you should be keeping them from anyhow] does it? It actually teaches them how and why not to do these things ? Interesting. If a child is too small to understand your words clearly, it is also too small to understand why mummy darling is hitting it suddenly.

BTW as an adult living in Portugal, my language skills have a way to go before I could say I am fluent - so by your reckoning, the locals should swat me and talk sternly and that way I will learn when I don't understand them?

The problem is adults who should know better, still believing that spanking/swatting etc ie hitting a child 'doesn't count' as being bad, as it's either discipline - which it isn't, discipline means to teach not to hit - or punishment which still is not right.

The minute you agree to a giant several times your height, say 15ft tall, and equally strong swatting you for when you don't understand something or do something your partner or boss doesn't like, that will be the day that perhaps you will understand finally that hitting is wrong. All of it. Period. No exuses and no reasons. The only ones being defence of ourself or another.

This is the problem I have with anti-spanking crowds. You can talk to your kids and teach them AND supplement it with spankings when talking, time-outs, removal of toys, removal of dessert, etc. have all failed. Sometimes that happens. I had a brother who was literally down to a mattress, a blanket, and a pillow in his room because he had lost every toy, every book, and every game. He was grounded from everything. He was in timeout every half hour he was awake. But, he kept breaking the rules. My parents had never spanked any of us, and at the time, he was eight. He simply refused to stop biting my sister and I, breaking the skin on more than one occasion. I still have scars from some of his bites. Once day, my stepdad after seeing yet another bite on my six year old sister's skin from her brother, took him into the room, told him that, since there were no more toys he could lose, no more privileges to take away, and timeouts were not working, he was going to get a spanking. After my brother was spanked, my stepdad hugged him and said, "I love you. Your sisters love you. You need to stop biting them or you will be spanked again. Do you understand?" My brother said yes, and guess what? He didn't bite any of use again. All it took was once. On the one kid that nothing else worked. You want to tell me what you would have done to fix it?

So ... your stepdad actually used violence to prove a point ie don't bite??!! And your brother stopped. I bet - he never learned the lesson he simply was scared not to bite again and THAT isn't what we want for children. We want and need to teach them. If he was having SO many problems still with biting at aged 8 yrs old - I would have expected your family to get help for him and find out WHY and not simply batter it out of him.

I would have done anything and everything - but I would never had laid a finger on him. It's violence, it's proving 'might equals right', it's illegal in most of Europe - rightly so, and it doesn't SOLVE the problem. It stops it for a while but then it can go underground .... and pop out in other ways. I taught my children right from wrong years ago - I didn't hit them and I didn't have 'angels' either. I taught them that no one should hit anyone except in self defence, or defence of another. They are great and gentle adults with children of their own ... all of who know better than to hit.

I shudder to think how Amber Reyes' children will be raised - likely little monsters themselves who will be the terror of the house. I'm reminded of a time I went to my friend's home, he was away but his wife was there. We chatted for a little bit, but ultimately I couldn't take it - his kids were just too out of control, screaming and fighting, throwing toys. All his wife did was yell at them and would separate them, but ultimately it did little good. In later talks with him, I said that if I acted that way, my Mom would have taken the belt to me. He said, "Oh Amber doesn't like to spank the kids." Yea... it showed! I was spanked when my parents (mostly my Mom) determined I needed it. I was a military police officer, spent a year in China teaching English, I have my bachelor's degree and I currently work for the Department of Defense as a federal civilian. Yes, I'm a bit introverted, but that's more because of my enjoyment in video games growing up. Ultimately I don't feel that in my own life spanking stunted my life, and frankly I'm a bit worried that I'd have ended up like my sister - the last of us three kids - she was never spanked. She's spoiled, screamed back and forth with my Mom, and is the most selfish person I know - even at 21! So as for me and mine, I'll keep spanking as an option - a little used option, BUT an option all the same.

You let me know how your little terrors turn out Amber, and I'll wager that my kids, 10 to 1, turn out more productive and civil than yours.

monsters? really? only because she doesn't believe in spanking? Get a fucking life. Most people I know that were spanked as children, are terrors as adults and drug or alcohol addicts. And most of the people I know that were never spanked. Are a joy to be around. You have issues mister.

monsters? really? only because she doesn't believe in spanking? Get a fucking life. Most people I know that were spanked as children, are terrors as adults and drug or alcohol addicts. And most of the people I know that were never spanked. Are a joy to be around. You have issues mister.

You left out low self esteem, suicide, and sexual addiction (in an attempt to be "loved"). And that effects all the siblings on top of all the violence issues raised in this discussion. ( Since all the children were subjected to a violent atmosphere, and sibling acting out behaviors have ripple effects).

HER children ... will probably turn out like mine, and all the children that I knew of the same age who are now gentle, kind, sensitive and caring adults with children of their own - all of whom know that hitting is wrong .... unlike some!

One of my earliest memories was at 3 yrs old watching my sister ( who was 6 ) be spanked and it was the first memory I have of feeling rage and resentment build up inside me toward my mother. My mother was a great mom that gave her all, but the distrust and anger I felt in that moment as a small child lingered... to have someone you love physically hurt me or my sister (even though spanking was extremely rare in our house).

As I now have my own child, I can't imagine spanking for any reason. We followed Montessori teachings from when she was young and created a prepared environment, are consistent with rules, expectations, etc. She is a respectful and sweet little girl who is constantly commented on by strangers for her grace and courtesy and behavior. It is a big fallacy that children who are not spanked will be "little monsters". Perhaps children that aren't disciplined may be that way, but we discipline just fine without physical punishment. I cringed when I was with a close friend and his toddler threw food on the floor a couple times and then he spanked him. Perhaps the child wouldn't throw food again and it the solution to spank was quick and easy, but( in my view ) it is just laziness to spank rather than finding a way to discipline in a more meaningful way. I thought back to when my daughter did the same at 2( throwing food on the floor ) and I just gently removed her from the table and insisted she clean it up before returning or else she could not finish her dinner.... in other words, SHE is responsible for her mess and SHE needed to clean it.

So, to the person saying that children who aren't spanked are "little monsters", I would challenge you to walk into any Montessori classroom and see the 30 children ages 3-6 working together politely and with courtesy and without any physical punishment or even a teacher controlling the classroom. Each moment is a teaching moment, so when behavior needs correcting, it is up to the parents to put in the extra thought and effort to find a way of getting the point across without violence.

Although a boy could be more challenging, it doesn't change the approach Again, walk into a Montessori primary classroom ( ages 3-6 ) with 15 boys and 15 girls and watch for yourself. My daughter is not atypical as all the students in her class, including the boys, are equally well behaved and respectful. It is amazing to watch the compassion between these children... even outside of school when playing or at parties.

I can see you are really grasping here. Nope, I would never withhold food. I didn't say I took her dinner away and sent her to her room without food-- I think that would be terrible. I gave my child a CHOICE. She could clean up her mess and return to the dinner table if she was still hungry - OR - she could choose to leave it and walk away if she wanted. She is responsible for her choice and actions, the same way we are. In the end, she simply went and got her tiny dustpan and brush, swept it up, threw it in the trash, and climbed back up and joined us ( no tears, no lectures, no hard feelings, nobody was upset about it). She quickly associated that if there was a mess, she was responsible for cleaning it. We left out a small broom, dustpan, brush, and hand towels, along with her plates and utensils and napkins and would regularly find her setting and clearing her own table and wiping down the table after she cleared her plate ( yes, even at 2 years old ).... especially at that age, they are so eager to help and want to do what's right and what they see us doing.

First of all, not all situations require giving a child a choice. For instance, "Stay out of the street." Period. No choice there. Unless "death" should be given as an option.

Second, the child has ALREADY made the choice. I have never spanked my children unless they knew PRIOR TO THEIR ACTIONS that a spanking would result. So yes, there was a choice. Choice number one: obey dad and don't get spanked. Choice number two: disobey dad and DO get spanked.

Have we used other methods of discipline? You bet! It's not all about spanking in our household.

My take on all this? I'm not going to convince the "non-spankers" that they should spank. Nor do I think a law should be created that would force anyone to spank.

Conversely, the non-spankers will undoubtedly not convince me to never spank. Nor should they impose a law that forbids me from doing so.

There are many ways to raise children. Out of the same womb will come a compliant child and a stubborn child. With different levels of wills comes differing methods of discipline.

you remember being 3? most people dont.
You dont feelrage and resentment for witnessing something at 3, your mind simply cannot work that way. so states psychology. and that means logic.

its hard to believe your story. When presented with te ability to commit an action just because you can, without first knowing that it is bad a child will commit it. When told what they did was wrong, more than likely they wont actually comprehend the issue. If a child doesnt like to eat something THEY WONT, its as simple as that. when they dont have to clean something they wont. its that simple, I know that because there was no physical punishment for me when I did not eat something or clean my room, I would keep the food in my cheeks to spit it out later, I would either play with the toys already out (and get more out) and likely fall asleep instead of clean (one time I even sang a song about how mean my parents were for making me clean, they thought it was hilarious and told me about it a few times in my teenage and adult years.)
Now I am in training for law enforcement...I was beat.
Everybody I know who was not beat either is in jail, disrespectful at least, or simply not getting jobs...all of reasoning because they can act that way and disregard issues in their life so they can go have fun and drink or do other activities not including things the NEED to do.